Gunshow oddball

[tbury]

I just ran across an odd S&W a a gun show today. Looks like a model 1917. It has smooth grips a lanyard ring hole in the bottom and a non-serial number on the but by the hole. The gun serial number is S4226. The seller says it is 45 colt, the frame has been reblued and there are no S&W markings on the gun. on the left side plate under the rear sight there is a small circle mark with a GS and an H over top of the GH. No other markings on the gun. The barrel has front sight with a ramp that is almost 3 inches long. My best guess is a customized (butchered) 1917 that was rebarreled and the cylinder bored out.

 

[tbury]

I just ran across an odd S&W a a gun show today. Looks like a model 1917. It has smooth grips a lanyard ring hole in the bottom and a non-serial number on the but by the hole. The gun serial number is S4226. The seller says it is 45 colt, the frame has been reblued and there are no S&W markings on the gun. on the left side plate under the rear sight there is a small circle mark with a GS and an H over top of the GH. No other markings on the gun. The barrel has front sight with a ramp that is almost 3 inches long. My best guess is a customized (butchered) 1917 that was rebarreled and the cylinder bored out.

 

[tbury]

In addition it has a nickled trigger and hammer. A Bubba special or what?

 

[m-1911]

Butchered is a good word for it

 

[CMcDermott]

The serial number is NOT S4226, the postwar N-frames with the "S" prefix started at S62489. Maybe 54226? The number on the bottom of the grip frame should be the serial number, the numbers in the crane opening are assembly numbers. You can also look on the back of the cylinder and the barrel; all these should be stamped with the same serial number.

 

[DanChamberlain]

Without a photo, it's hard to tell if it would be a "bubba" special or not. How was the workmanship? Cutting up a 1917 isn't a crime, if the end results in a nice custom package. Remember, there was a time when people had different attitudes about what it meant to have personal property, and the "propriety" of remarking on what they did with it.

Dan

 

[PZ93C]

Well said, Dan.

Some of us still have different attitudes about what it meant to have personal property.

That serial number still gets me, though.

 

[tbury]

Well I did not have a camera and was un familiar with the SN location on the model 1917. It definately was not on the bottom of the grip frame, only the military ID number. I did not look on the flat of the barrel and there were no marks on the cylinder except for buffing. Neither I nor the seller knew why all the S&W markings were buffed off. Maybe it was in really bad condition with pitting. The guy said it really shot 45 colt ammo well and he was thinking of keeping it and selling the original grips on Ebay. The bluing job looked fine except for the lack of markings (and serial number?). As a shooter if he likes it all is well. I looked on gun broker and found some 1917s with even worse modifications. One had a vent rib. He said he was interested in any info I could find for him. I guess I can tell him what it used to be.

 

[DanChamberlain]

My 1917 was so badly pitted that 90% of the markings were buffed out to get it back to a nice blued finish. The barrel marking are still visible, but he Brazillian crest is gone forever, as are any patent dates. The serial numbers remain. But, after all that, it's still a great shooter with a wonderful double action and accurate to boot!

Dan

 

[feralmerril]

Ever s&w that is now a classic old gun was once a highly available relatively inexpensive gun. People, me included, experimented, changed calibers, chopped barrels etc.
You see people doing all kinds of custom work on rugers now because they are very available and strong.
40 years ago others and I did the same with smiths. 1917s could be had for $25 and up. I extensively had one altered to be a 45 colt/acp convertable with modern adjustable sights. We were proud and respected among other gun people as are the group now that respects the custom ruger fans. Was no big deal and seemed to show you a gun person that would go a step farther as the current ruger "butchers" do now to get what they want.
Before my era the same type people "butchered" up fine colt single action armys for the same reason, they were plentyfull and cheap good canidates for something different. Lighten up on us old boys!

 

[s&wchad]

Here's a couple of 1917s, a S&W and a Colt. The late S&W has the flaming bomb on the frame, the Colt has the GHS inspector stamp. I believe it was the mark of Col. Gilbert H. Stewart, chief inspector.

 

[bk43]

Originally posted by tbury:
Well I did not have a camera and was un familiar with the SN location on the model 1917. It definately was not on the bottom of the grip frame, only the military ID number.

That is the serial number on the butt and it should also appear on the barrel flat and the cylinder as has been said. The pic in this thread is the correct stamp. Is it possible that the "S" was a number 5? If it is indeed an "S" you are looking at a gun with an altered SN and want nothing to do with it even as old as this one is. Also, no markings other than on the butt and inspectors marks would also be correct on an original military 1917 frame.

BTW, when a seller says it "shoots great and I'm thinking of keeping it" my BS meter goes into the red but YMMV.

Bob